Article: Trevor Story Isn’t Passing the Eye Test

[Alex Mayes]

If he's going to contribute, Trevor Story will need to start hitting when it counts.

Trevor Story is looking to make an impact for the Boston Red Sox while staying healthy in 2025. So far, Story is slashing .273/.304/.432. That’s a respectable line for a shortstop in his age-32 season. Just looking at the numbers, it would be easy to assume that Story has been a contributing member of the lineup on a nightly basis. After all, he’s getting on base and already has two home runs. However, his at-bats don’t pass the eye test most of the time. Even more concerning is that when Story steps up to the plate with two outs, you don’t feel great about the outcome. When there are runners on base, it’s even worse. I spoke about Story’s struggles with two outs briefly on the most recent episode of The Talk Sox Podcast, so I wanted to dive into the numbers and see what exactly is going on.

Let’s start by looking at Story’s at-bats with two outs so far this season. There have been 15 of those so far. Currently, he’s hitting .133 with a 53.3% strikeout rate and no walks. He’s had two hits in this situation: a soft grounder that he beat out for an infield single and a barreled single that died in the cold air on Tuesday night. He seems to be pressing a ton when he’s at the plate with two outs. As we can see with his pitch breakdown, he’s swinging at non-competitive pitches and either going down swinging or poking them off the end of the bat. We’re working with small sample sizes, sure, but this is a concerning trend.

Even more concerning, though, is when Story is at the plate with two outs and runners on base. That putrid .133 average plummets to a flat zero with men on. He’s been in this situation eight times this season and he’s running a 50% strikeout rate. Of the four times he has made contact, three balls haven’t left the infield. So far, he’s chasing fastballs out of the zone and striking out on them, the classic definition of pressing. He’s trying to do too much and failing to do anything.

The good news is that there’s plenty of time left in the season for Story to fix this issue. The bad news is Marcelo Mayer is breathing down Story’s neck at Worcester. Mayer looked ready in spring training and was surprised he didn’t make the big league club. Story isn’t going anywhere, but if his issues hitting with men on continue then it won’t take long for Alex Cora and company to start questioning wether the lineup would be better served with Mayer getting the nod at short.

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[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I agree with relying on the eye test instead of the most over-used cliche in modern sports reporting: the small sample size.

Red Sox fans may not have seen Trevor Story play a full season in Boston yet, but this is the fourth year we've watched him flail away in the batter's box. Four years is a large flail size.

Story was a strikeout machine in Colorado, so this is who he is (at least the thin air in Denver helped his fly balls find greener pastures). The problem is he's only part of the problem.

Boston already has four whiffers in the AL's Top 10 in Ks: Devers, Story, Duran, and Bregman -- a guy partially recruited for the batting order because he didn't strike out.

Mayer and Anthony will undoubtedly inject some energy into the line-up when promoted, but both are also prone to Ks. At least they can both slam pitches all over the park -- like their buddy KC -- more consistently than most Red Sox (any bad Triple A stats aren't necessarily indicative of whether they can handle MLB pitching).

So unless Breslow trades for Luis Arraez -- the career .322 hitter who has fanned once this year -- then we'd better brace ourselves. But that doesn't mean Story, who has NESN gushing is so athletic, can't advance a ghost runner in extra innings once in a while with a freaking bunt!

 

[moonslav59]

If Story has 500+ PAs and a .720+ OPS, I'll be happy. (Assuming no 20 throwing errors)

[Malcolm White]

I'd love that in 250 ABs, then turn the job over to Mayer.

Could've used Masa a few spots, eh?

[notin]

17 minutes ago, Malcolm White said:

I'd love that in 250 ABs, then turn the job over to Mayer.

Could've used Masa a few spots, eh?

And what if Mayer - neither a bastion of health nor a Gwynn/Arraez contact hitter - isn’t any better?  Or is worse?

[Bellhorn04]

22 minutes ago, Malcolm White said:

Could've used Masa a few spots, eh?

In place of who?

[Nick]

What exactly are we waiting for? 

Story to become something he hasn't been?

Mayer definitely has more upside than Story.

We are better off going with what our ultimate lineup will end up, that's probably Mayer in place of Story and Anthony in place of Rafaela (make him a super utility guy).

I will bet that Mayer/Anthony combo will have more impactful hitting lines than Story/Rafaela.

We made the bold and right move with Devers to DH and shelving $18M and Yoshida off the field.

Next on the cross hair is deep dive into Casas. I'm just not sure he'll ever get over the San Francisco fog that sits between the ears.

Obviously we don't have a replacement for Casas at this time.

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, Nick said:

What exactly are we waiting for? 

Story to become something he hasn't been?

Mayer definitely has more upside than Story.

We are better off going with what our ultimate lineup will end up, that's probably Mayer in place of Story and Anthony in place of Rafaela (make him a super utility guy).

I will bet that Mayer/Anthony combo will have more impactful hitting lines than Story/Rafaela.

We made the bold and right move with Devers to DH and shelving $18M and Yoshida off the field.

Next on the cross hair is deep dive into Casas. I'm just not sure he'll ever get over the San Francisco fog that sits between the ears.

Obviously we don't have a replacement for Casas at this time.

 

Would this be "bold enough?"

2B Story

SS Mayer

CF Campbell

(Strange how #1 Anthony might be the last one in.)

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Malcolm White said:

I'd love that in 250 ABs, then turn the job over to Mayer.

Could've used Masa a few spots, eh?

But he can't THROW!

[Bellhorn04]

37 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

But he can't THROW!

And we have a DH.  The only role for Masa right now is PH.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And we have a DH.  The only role for Masa right now is PH.

He might not be able to pinch with that shoulder either! 😨

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

 

Would this be "bold enough?"

2B Story

SS Mayer

CF Campbell

(Strange how #1 Anthony might be the last one in.)

It's been mentioned Mayer may have just as many holes in his swing as Story -- or MLB pitchers will find them, and even create new ones.

But Mayer's arm is such an upgrade at a key position for a ground ball pitching staff, that he could make the difference in Boston making the playoffs. No infielder on the Sox' current roster has a stronger throwing arm.

[Nick]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

 

Would this be "bold enough?"

2B Story

SS Mayer

CF Campbell

(Strange how #1 Anthony might be the last one in.)

A step in the right direction.

This is where I'll have issues with Cora.

Under this scenario, Story is the worst hitter. Cora's unwillingness to drop Story in the order goes back to Cora's reluctance not to play Kike at short.

I don't give damn about loyalty. Do what's best for the team.

 

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, Nick said:

A step in the right direction.

This is where I'll have issues with Cora.

Under this scenario, Story is the worst hitter. Cora's unwillingness to drop Story in the order goes back to Cora's reluctance not to play Kike at short.

I don't give damn about loyalty. Do what's best for the team.

 

Cora has patience. That can be a virtue. I'm not sure 14 games shows Cora cannot make major changes. I think th Campbell roster move showed he's willing to adjust his thinking.

Deciding to play campbell in CF not LF was an "on-the-fly" change in plans based on Campbell's comfort zone in CF over LF, despite Duran being the better defensive CF'er.

I think Campbell may bump Story down a notch, soon, but putti ng more pressure on Campbell could be a worry, too. (I'd put Abreu in front of Story, vs LHPs, but the lefty-righty-lefty thing is often desired.)

Also, there was a time, and this is all during a pretty small 14 games sample size, that Story seemed to be showing signs of life with his bat. I'm a guy who like to "ride the hot hand" as much as anyone, but I also do not give up on someone over 3-5 games. Here is a look at some selected shorter sample sizes of Story's 2025 season:

Game 1-5: .321 OPS

Game 6-14: .833

I'm kinda glad Cora did not overreact over his first 5 game "slump." While his current .687 OPS is bad, he's got about 4 guys ahead of him and 4 worse than him. He's not the guy I look at first. (His arm troubles worry me more than his bat, at this point.)

 

[Nick]

24 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Cora has patience. That can be a virtue. I'm not sure 14 games shows Cora cannot make major changes. I think th Campbell roster move showed he's willing to adjust his thinking.

Deciding to play campbell in CF not LF was an "on-the-fly" change in plans based on Campbell's comfort zone in CF over LF, despite Duran being the better defensive CF'er.

I think Campbell may bump Story down a notch, soon, but putti ng more pressure on Campbell could be a worry, too. (I'd put Abreu in front of Story, vs LHPs, but the lefty-righty-lefty thing is often desired.)

Also, there was a time, and this is all during a pretty small 14 games sample size, that Story seemed to be showing signs of life with his bat. I'm a guy who like to "ride the hot hand" as much as anyone, but I also do not give up on someone over 3-5 games. Here is a look at some selected shorter sample sizes of Story's 2025 season:

Game 1-5: .321 OPS

Game 6-14: .833

I'm kinda glad Cora did not overreact over his first 5 game "slump." While his current .687 OPS is bad, he's got about 4 guys ahead of him and 4 worse than him. He's not the guy I look at first. (His arm troubles worry me more than his bat, at this point.)

 

I have a bad habit putting a player in my dog house. Those of you follow me, you know how obnoxious I was with first with Kike leading off, then playing Kike at short.

I think my expectation of Story was too high and I tend to rag on him quite a bit. 

Just a bad personality trait that I have.....

[vegasbob]

2 hours ago, Nick said:

I have a bad habit putting a player in my dog house. Those of you follow me, you know how obnoxious I was with first with Kike leading off, then playing Kike at short.

I think my expectation of Story was too high and I tend to rag on him quite a bit. 

Just a bad personality trait that I have.....

i can relate.  Watching Netflix's Clubhoiuse has helped make these players more real while emphasizing the grind of 162 game season.     The show reminds you that there is more to life than getting a 2 out, 9th inning, 3 run HR to win the  AL East.   

[Kimmi]

On 4/10/2025 at 7:42 AM, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I agree with relying on the eye test instead of the most over-used cliche in modern sports reporting: the small sample size.

Red Sox fans may not have seen Trevor Story play a full season in Boston yet, but this is the fourth year we've watched him flail away in the batter's box. Four years is a large flail size.

Story was a strikeout machine in Colorado, so this is who he is (at least the thin air in Denver helped his fly balls find greener pastures). The problem is he's only part of the problem.

Boston already has four whiffers in the AL's Top 10 in Ks: Devers, Story, Duran, and Bregman -- a guy partially recruited for the batting order because he didn't strike out.

Mayer and Anthony will undoubtedly inject some energy into the line-up when promoted, but both are also prone to Ks. At least they can both slam pitches all over the park -- like their buddy KC -- more consistently than most Red Sox (any bad Triple A stats aren't necessarily indicative of whether they can handle MLB pitching).

So unless Breslow trades for Luis Arraez -- the career .322 hitter who has fanned once this year -- then we'd better brace ourselves. But that doesn't mean Story, who has NESN gushing is so athletic, can't advance a ghost runner in extra innings once in a while with a freaking bunt!

 

The K rates on this team are frustrating, and Story is right up there with those who need to improve their BB/K ratio.  I was hoping we'd see an improvement this year on the strike outs, but so far, not so much.

I realize a big part of the disappointment with Story has been his inability to stay on the field.  But with that being the case, I don't think we've really seen how Story can contribute to this team.  I'm a Story fan. I'm hoping that Cora and the FO will show patience with him through a hopefully healthy season.

[Kimmi]

On 4/11/2025 at 3:05 PM, Nick said:

A step in the right direction.

This is where I'll have issues with Cora.

Under this scenario, Story is the worst hitter. Cora's unwillingness to drop Story in the order goes back to Cora's reluctance not to play Kike at short.

I don't give damn about loyalty. Do what's best for the team.

 

I don't think it's about loyalty so much as it is about not making big decisions based on 17 games.  A manager does need to show his players that he has their backs, so in that sense, I guess it's about loyalty.  But there needs to be patience.

[Nick]

16 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I don't think it's about loyalty so much as it is about not making big decisions based on 17 games.  A manager does need to show his players that he has their backs, so in that sense, I guess it's about loyalty.  But there needs to be patience.

I agree to a point. 

I do think managers need to react little sooner. 

If I'm 1-20, I'm not going to get mad that I got moved down in order.  As an athlete I should be upset with my performance and not helping the team win. 

I think that's what I'm mostly arguing about.

[Kimmi]

16 minutes ago, Nick said:

I agree to a point. 

I do think managers need to react little sooner. 

If I'm 1-20, I'm not going to get mad that I got moved down in order.  As an athlete I should be upset with my performance and not helping the team win. 

I think that's what I'm mostly arguing about.

As an athlete, I would be upset with my own performance also.  I'm guessing most of these players would be.   A big part of a manager's job is knowing his players and knowing how they will react.  One player who is moved down in the line up might use it as extra motivation to get his act together.  Another player might benefit more from feeling like his manager trusts him enough to keep him in the line up where he is.  I'm good with Cora's decisions.